Babinda Boulders

The other spot we visited a few times while staying at Bramston Beach was the Babinda Boulders.  The kids loved it here and the water was lovely and refreshing and not quite as ‘fresh’ as the beautiful Josephine Falls.

The kids played this game of ‘boogie board boats’ loading rocks and transporting them about the creek for ages!

The Babinda Boulders are located about 60km’s south of Cairns and are easily accessible via the cute little township of Babinda along a sealed road.  It should be noted that the bakery in Babinda is awesome and we also got to visit the hospital and pharmacy due to needing some medication for the kids school sores and they too were very helpful and friendly.  There is also basic camping available just up the road from the Boulders swimming hole – we didn’t think it would be great for an extended stay, but definitely a nice spot for a cheap overnight visit.  Oh, and the Boulders are located in a National Park so unfortunately no dogs allowed.

There is plenty of shade and grass for picnics as well as a number of BBQ shelters, toilets/change rooms, and also a small playground for the kids if they get sick of swimming.  Our crew loved it here.  The stairs from the grassy picnic area into the water, are quite steep so you need to be a little careful with small ones, but the sandy and shallow water at the bottom is terrific for babies/grandmas/mums who just want to sit!  Kipp loved it here testing out his new floaty from Christmas.

Nice spot!

Aunty Beth, Lexi and Corey relaxing

Picnic lunch of yummy Babinda Bakery pies on the grass at the Boulders.

Time for a swim – down the stairs we go.

Grunda taking Kipp for a swim

Kipp & Grunda

Kids loved it!

There is an Aboriginal Legend about the Boulders which goes like this’

“According to legend a beautiful girl named Oolana, from the Yidinji people, married a respected elder from her tribe named Waroonoo. Shortly after their union another tribe moved into the area and a handsome young man came into her life. His name was Dyga and the pair soon fell in love. Realising the adulterous crime they were committing, the young lovers escaped their tribes and fled into the valleys. The elders captured them, but Oolana broke free from her captors and threw herself into the still waters of what is now known as Babinda Boulders, calling for Dyga to follow her. As Dyga hit the waters, her anguished cries for her lost lover turned the still waters into a rushing torrent and the land shook with sorrow. Huge boulders were scattered around the creek and the crying Oolana disappeared among them.

Aboriginal legend says her spirit still guards the boulders and that her calls for her lost lover can still be heard.”

Up to 17 lives have been lost at the Babinda Boulders, most of them young men and the story goes that ‘Oolana’ calls the young men to her – so males be careful when visiting!  As with all fresh water swimming holes, care must be taken to check before diving/jumping in and stay away from flooded/swift flowing water and rapids.

There is an easy 2km rainforest walk to view some of the boulder formations and waterfalls, but I didn’t get a chance to check it out on our visits as I was too busy watching the kids do this ……………….

So. Much. Fun.  The boys would have jumped off this rock all day!  Babinda Boulders is yet another of the beautiful swimming spots we have up here in Tropical North Qld – I can’t believe it has taken us this long to visit it.  Definitely spend a few hours there when you make it up this way!  Oh and next time we are out that way we are going to check out Babinda Kayaks – looks like lots of fun too!